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CLARIFY has emerged as a proven impactful program that is ready to be piloted in local news communities around the United States. We are currently seeking additional investment partners to expand the program in New York City, and to pilot a national program in 2023.  Please join us in building the CLARIFY NEWS CORPS to empower youth and strengthen communities through local public service journalism.

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CLARIFY was launched in Fall 2014 in The Bronx to give teens from underserved communities the experience of using public service journalism to improve their communities. The program has grown to include students from all five boroughs and is needed now more than ever before:

• Only 26 percent of non-charter high schools in NYC have high school newspaper programs and only 15 percent in the Bronx do (as reported in a 2022 survey conducted by Baruch College’s High School Journalism Program)
• There has been a steady decline in local journalism across the country with an average of two local newspapers closing every week–this leaves communities less informed
• Lack of diversity in our newsrooms remains a significant challenge
• Today’s high school students are the first to use social media as a news source. The ability to ensure they have the ability to discern between fake and real news is a growing priority

CLARIFY addresses these issues and more. Alumni report being instilled with newfound confidence, improved critical thinking, and civic awareness.

Upon completion of the program, pre/post surveying has indicated a significant increase in understanding of public-service journalism and the important role it plays in local communities. Students consistently report improved awareness of public officials and their duties, how the local government conducts itself, and an increased willingness to contact public officials and government agencies for information. The CLARIFY Youth Training Program has helped to transform students from hesitant interviewers to bold reporters who have the research skills and knowledge to ask public officials informed questions.

When covering local issues that apply directly to their communities, these students are able to witness the very stories they cover play out in front of them. The benefits of CLARIFY don’t end once the program does. An early comprehension and participation in journalism sets these students up for a lifetime of media literacy and civic engagement.

Workers outside London who have shorter commutes on public transport are returning to their offices more frequently.

Regional Reit, which owns 156 office buildings from Eastleigh to Glasgow, said that virtually all its tenants were back in their offices for at least part of the week. Of the company’s 1,042 tenants, only 12 had not bothered to start working from their offices again. Two of those were Scottish government departments, it said.

Occupancy has increased markedly compared with last spring. A year ago, the group said about 30 per cent of its tenants had reopened their offices after the pandemic. That is now 99 per cent.

Hybrid working is the most popular form of working among its tenants, the “vast majority” of whom have full offices on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. “For many, this is four or even five days per week,” Regional Reit said.

Workers have been less enthusiastic about returning to the office in London. Even in the busiest parts of the capital, the West End and Canary Wharf, offices are rarely more than 50 per cent full, according to the latest data from Remit Consulting. That compares with 70 per cent before the pandemic.

Mark Dixon, 63, the boss of IWG, the serviced offices group, said last year that “the enemy is commuting” rather than the office itself.

Stephen Inglis, 53, chief executive of London & Scottish Property Investment Management, which runs Regional Reit, agreed. He said “shorter and simpler commutes” in regional towns and cities partly explained why offices outside the capital were welcoming workers back more quickly.

“Most of our occupiers are encouraging their staff to be in the office the majority of time . . . [and] the trend remains towards more people being in the office more of the week,” he said. “We expect this momentum to continue through 2023, until employers and employees strike the right balance for them between working from home and working from the office.”

There has been much uncertainty around the return to the office, but Regional Reit expects employers to have established their long-term strategies by the end of 2023. Inglis’s forecast is that the majority of regional businesses will make their staff go into the office on three or four days a week. “From the trends we are seeing, we believe employees working fully from home, that were not doing so pre-pandemic, will be in a small minority,” he said.

Data from the Office for National Statistics shows that only about one in six employees are working from home only. Employers have been almost forced to acquiesce to workers’ demand for less time in the office, given how difficult it has been to find new staff over the past two years. With the jobs market starting to become less competitive, some bosses are considering becoming stricter on working from home.

Engineering is a field that has traditionally been male-dominated, but in recent years, there has been a growing push to encourage more women to pursue careers in this rewarding and exciting industry.

By encouraging women to enter this field, we can tap into a wealth of untapped talent and ensure that the engineering industry remains diverse and inclusive.

In this article, we speak to Lucy Lawrence, manager at Moleroda Finishing Systems about how the industry can attract more female talent. Moleroda is a company spanning the sector, supplying deburring and finishing tools to the manufacturing industry.

The Benefits of Diversity in Engineering

Let’s talk about the benefits of increasing diversity in engineering, particularly in terms of attracting greater numbers of women into the industry.

Lucy “Diversity in any industry is a good thing, and engineering is no exception. By bringing more women into the field, we can ensure that the industry remains vibrant and innovative, with a range of perspectives and ideas being brought to the table. This, in turn, leads to more creative and effective solutions to problems, which is essential for the continued success of the industry. Additionally, by encouraging more women into the field, we can help to break down the gender stereotypes that often discourage girls from pursuing careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields.”

The Importance of Role Models

You mentioned before the interview about having strong role models. Explain the importance of positive role models.

Lucy “One of the biggest obstacles that women face when entering the engineering industry is a lack of female role models. Many young women may not have anyone in their lives who works in engineering, which can make it difficult for them to envision themselves in this career path. By providing young women with access to female engineers who can serve as mentors and role models, we can help to inspire them to pursue careers in this field. This can be done through outreach programs, mentorship opportunities, and other initiatives that connect young women with female engineers.”

“Women in leadership roles can serve as role models and inspiration for other women in the industry. Engineering companies can support women getting into leadership roles by providing leadership training and development opportunities, and creating an inclusive work culture that values diversity and equality.”

Provide Flexible Work Options

I know you are quite passionate about creating opportunities for working mums. Tell me about that.

Lucy “One of the biggest challenges for women in engineering is balancing their careers with family life. By offering flexible work options, such as part-time work or remote work, engineering companies can help women stay in the field and advance in their careers.”

“Quite often, companies are missing out on brilliant human resources by not taking a more flexible approach. Within engineering, as with any other industry, flexible work options can also help women who are returning to work after taking time off for family reasons.”

“I know from experience that after having a family, I was infinitely more motivated to be useful at work.  You know what they say ‘If you want something done, ask a busy person. Well who is more busy than an average parent!’.

Encourage Girls to Study STEM

If the opportunities are there, how would somebody ensure they are qualified for the role?

Lucy “First and foremost, encouraging girls to study STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) subjects from a young age is crucial for increasing the number of women in engineering. This begins at schools, but we have a responsibility to show off the exciting and rewarding opportunities available in engineering, we can help them see it as a viable career option.”

“Thankfully, there is now a lot more positive PR around women in manufacturing, so young girls are being exposed to the endless possibilities. Growth in this messaging needs to continue.”

Finding your niche

Thanks for speaking to us Lucy. What are your final thoughts, and what would you say to anyone thinking about joining the engineering industry?

Lucy: “In my opinion, encouraging more women into the engineering industry is essential for ensuring that this field remains diverse and innovative. By providing support and resources, fostering a culture of inclusion, offering professional development opportunities, and encouraging young women to pursue careers in this field, we can help to create a more diverse and inclusive engineering industry that benefits everyone.”

“It’s worth recognising how diverse the engineering industry is, so there really is something for everyone. I truly believe that anybody can find their niche in the engineering sector.  You only need to look at the Moleroda Products to get an idea of the range of sub-sectors, let alone the roles within them. We supply everyone from major aerospace companies and medical equipment manufacturers, to jewelry makers and restoration specialists.